Chapter 11: The Marvelous Use of Butterfly Dust! The Trading Street!

“Hmph!” Lu Han snorted coldly, a flash of light flickering at his fingertips as he tossed a skill book to Wang Chen before turning away. Yet, halfway down the path, he glanced back and called out to Lu Shiyu, who was still casting lingering glances at Wang Chen, “What are you dawdling for? Let’s go!”

With that, Lu Shiyu reluctantly tore herself away. Wang Chen, unconcerned with all this, quickly examined the skill book in his hand:

[Mental Soothing (Upgradeable)]
[Effect: Soothes the negative emotions of a designated target, lasting up to eight seconds, with a cooldown of thirty seconds. At the highest level, can soothe up to five targets.]

This was a skill book exclusively for Life Shamans, focused on buffs and removing negative effects. But Wang Chen had other ideas. Once he got home and mastered the skill, he could experiment with reversing it—perhaps turning it into a powerful ability.

Soon after, all the students from Luzhou No. 1 High gathered at the entrance to the secret realm, even Tang Ruotong, who exited later than Wang Chen, arrived shortly after him. However, everyone’s attention was fixed on Wang Chen, and no one noticed her.

Seeing that the bus heading back to the city was almost full, Wang Chen quickly boarded and found a random seat. At that moment—

“Wang Chen! Don’t let one victory go to your head. It was just dumb luck. In the intercollegiate competition in half a month, I’ll stomp you beneath my feet!” Cai Kun stomped up the bus aisle, glaring at Wang Chen.

This guy had somehow gotten hold of a pair of overalls and paired them with a black shirt, making him look like a burnt sweet potato. Wang Chen looked at him expectantly. “So, are we betting on something?”

Cai Kun drew back his neck, feigning indifference but still trying to sound tough, “You’ll see! Just wait to be utterly humiliated by me!”

“Yes, yes, so what are we betting on?” Wang Chen spread his hands, but by then, all he saw was Cai Kun’s retreating back. Cai Kun had fled in haste.

“So he actually came all the way here just to throw out some tough talk?” Wang Chen chuckled. “How childish.”

After his first leveling experience, Wang Chen’s mindset had transformed completely. A broader path stretched endlessly before him; all the petty insults and filth of the past now seemed trivial. Perhaps it was because the boy who once had nothing had finally become his own greatest support.

Now, he no longer needed to tread cautiously. All the darkness of his past had become nothing more than fond memories.

Leaning his elbow against the bus window, Wang Chen gazed out at the passing scenery. Just then, he caught sight of a certain “burnt sweet potato” laughing and whispering with his lackeys, occasionally pointing at Wang Chen before erupting in loud laughter.

“Something’s not right. This blockhead looks shady no matter how you see him.”

The calm of the moment shattered. Wang Chen pondered a bit, then took out a handful of inverted butterfly dust and tossed it toward Cai Kun.

This butterfly dust had been obtained when Wang Chen fought side by side with the Illusory Phoenix Spirit Butterfly. Its original effect increased the user’s luck, but Wang Chen had reversed it—now, it was misfortune dust.

Colorless and odorless, the dust drifted on the breeze, its ethereal nature ensuring it reached Cai Kun despite the distance, as if unaffected by air resistance.

“If this doesn’t make you unlucky enough to question your very existence, I’m not Wang!”

Cai Kun, struck by the dust, sneezed and thought he’d caught a chill but paid it no mind, turning back to gossip with his sidekicks. Wang Chen, satisfied, rolled up the window, and soon the packed bus drove off.

…

Shortly after Wang Chen left, the rest of Class Six prepared to return to the city together, all piling into one bus.

Meanwhile, with the two bigshots of the class—Wang Chen and Lu Shiyu—absent, Cai Kun felt like a monkey king in a mountain with no tigers.

“Ahem! Quiet, everyone!” Cai Kun called out.

A quick-witted lackey immediately shouted, “Quiet! Boss Cai wants to speak!”

Cai Kun shot him an appreciative glance before addressing the now-silent students, “I’m about to finalize the team lineup for the next leveling session. Anyone interested in joining me, I’ll pick the best!”

Buzzing with excitement, the students hadn’t expected Cai Kun to organize so soon.

“Boss Cai is a combat class, a Blood Warlock. He reached level six on his first leveling session!” The same slick-tongued lackey glanced at Cai Kun, then continued, “Even if he’s a notch below certain people, he’s still the third strongest in our entire grade. Sign up quick—this opportunity won’t come again!”

Cai Kun, though annoyed at not being the very top, still basked in the flattery. He spoke loudly, “That’s right. What I value most in a team is trust. Those who are wishy-washy, no matter how strong, if they’re late, I won’t take them!”

He folded his arms and tightened his expression, trying to project the air of a cold expert.

“Level six is third in the grade? But Tongtong is already level seven!” a petite girl suddenly remarked, pointing at the valiant girl beside her.

“What!” The crowd turned in shock to look at Tang Ruotong, sitting quietly in the corner.

Tang Ruotong, now the center of attention, stood and said, “I did reach level seven, but only because I got lucky and stumbled upon a group of dying beasts—just happened to pick up the scraps.”

The students exchanged glances. “That sounds awfully familiar. Didn’t Wang Chen say the same thing? Do all experts use the same excuse?”

“Tang, stop being modest. There aren’t that many dying beasts for people to scavenge!”

Everyone was lively and cheerful, the atmosphere boisterous. With so many experts in Class Six now, who wouldn’t be happy? In the future, they could brag about being in the same class as such talents. Maybe one day, when these experts made it big, being their classmate would bring some benefits.

“I’m not making excuses! I really did find a pack of dying six-tailed venomous centipedes!” Tang Ruotong hurried to explain, but her words were drowned out in the jubilant uproar.

No matter the world, people only hear what they want to hear.

Meanwhile, Cai Kun sat ashen-faced, slumped in his seat as if he might shatter at the slightest touch.

“Boss, are you okay?” his lackey asked. This was the same guy who had brought up being third in the grade, and now had the nerve to feign concern. Cai Kun was livid. “I’m fine. Just great!”

Though he was a bit of a clown, one had to admit Cai Kun’s voice was impressively loud—a natural for singing and dancing.

Everyone turned to look at him. “Remember before, when Lu Shiyu was level nine and didn’t make a fuss, but he shouted and carried on? And now he’s at it again!”

“Cai Kun just can’t take a loss. Pathetic!”

Thus, a second round of verbal censure for Cai Kun began. He fell silent, turning his head away in mute misery.

…

At the same time, Wang Chen had just gotten off the bus in the city and was hurrying toward the Job Change Temple. He urgently needed to complete his second advancement quest before he could continue leveling, and every minute felt like a missed million.

However—

Standing before the temple, which bore a sign reading “Closed Today,” Wang Chen could only sigh. “No wonder it’s a public institution—they close this early?”

Looking up at the still-bright sky, Wang Chen pondered what to do next.

Suddenly, recalling the “warmth” Cai Kun had shown him, he had an idea and turned toward Trading Street.

…

Trading Street—as the name suggests—was where all manner of equipment and skill books were bought and sold. Adventurers who obtained miscellaneous items while hunting monsters but didn’t have enough to warrant renting a shop would set up stalls here to barter and trade.

Blending into the bustling crowd, Wang Chen scanned the various wares. One thing: never make eye contact with the stall owner, or you’ll get called over—just as Wang Chen was.

“Young man, come take a look! All fresh goods, straight from the field—honest business!” a burly, bearded man called out enthusiastically.

“The quality of your stuff seems a bit lacking,” Wang Chen said after a moment’s inspection.

The man looked offended. “How is it lacking? Look at this rhinoceros-hide breastplate—durability 100, defense +15. Sturdy and long-lasting, only 150,000 Tianlong coins!”

“And this flaming sword! Comes with fire damage, level requirement only five—just 170,000 Tianlong coins!”

“And there’s more…”

Ignoring the sales onslaught, Wang Chen let his gaze wander over the merchandise.

“No, what I meant is not that these things are bad, but they’re not bad enough,” Wang Chen replied.

“Huh?” The bearded man was stumped. Most customers wanted the best; who came looking for the worst?

Suddenly, inspiration struck him. “Could it be, young man, that your purse is a bit light?”

Wang Chen shot him a strange look. Why was this burly man speaking so formally? “And if it is?”

“In that case, let me recommend some slightly less impressive, but still good and affordable items!” The man began rummaging through his goods.

He produced a slender, unadorned sword and a matching shield. “These are my prized treasures—the Water-Repelling Sword and Shield!”

Wang Chen watched him blow the dust off the sword and shield, boasting without shame.

“Oh? So these come with water-repelling effects?” Wang Chen asked.

The man flushed. “Not exactly, but the names sound impressive, don’t they?”

He certainly knew how to do business.

Wang Chen said nothing.

“If those don’t suit you, I have these as well!” The man pulled out a pair of blue boots and a matching bracelet. “These are the Boots of Lightness and the Bracelet of Lightness.”

“Your treasured items too?” Wang Chen joked.

“No, these are my wife’s prized possessions!” The man’s quick wit was impressive—no wonder he had a wife.

“Do they have any speed-enhancing skills?”

“They do, but nothing too special!” he replied confidently. “But these bronze-level items are cheap and perfectly usable!”

Seeing Wang Chen’s expressionless face, the man added a little nervously, “If these still don’t work, I also have my grandpa’s—”

He was about to rummage again when Wang Chen interrupted, “I’ll take these four. How much?”